Learning in America

		The history of the world is filled with stories of people migrating. Migration is the movement of people from one place to another as they seek a new home. People who migrate are called immigrants. Immigrants decide to leave their home because of "push" and "pull" forces. Famine, over-population, few resources, war, and religious and political persecution "push" immigrants to move to another country. Hopes from employment and a better life "pull" immigrants to new places. Millions of people have migrated to North America since the 1600s. The Spanish, French, English, and Dutch were the first European settlers to establish permanent colonies. They settled in land originally populated by native peoples from Asia. These Europeans came to North America in search of gold, religious converts, and new places to live and practice their beliefs. A large number of peoples from Africa were driven from their homes at this time to be enslaved to work in colonies in the Americas. Throughout the 1800s, immigrants looking for employment came to North America from Japan, China, and Southeastern Europe. In the 1970s and 1980s, Southeast Asians, Latin Americans and Caribbeans migrated to North America. Many of these immigrants fled from war-torn countries, political persecution, and economic difficulties.

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